The best guarantee of security is peace, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated during a press briefing Wednesday with European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, in Strasbourg, France.

Responding to a question about Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union (EU) on security issues, Pashinyan recalled that Armenia cooperates with European countries, for example, France, on this matter. In addition, Armenia has received assistance from the EU twice through the Peace Facility. According to the premier, work is also being carried out in the context of the recently established peace with Azerbaijan, including the possibility of expanding cooperation in infrastructure.

Pashinyan noted that when they say "security," they often mean weapons, the army, special services, etc.

"For more than 30 years, we have lived with that perception. The main problem and the change in perception is this, and we are talking about this in the Republic of Armenia, about security guarantees. It is obvious to me that the most important guarantee is peace. In the second place is cooperation, interdependence, economic cooperation, and mutual benefit,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.

He added that Armenia is developing cooperation in the defense sector with the United States and a number of European countries, which was not the case before.

“But understanding that the development of the army is very important, and every sovereign state has the right and duty to do so, our perceptions of peace change over time from military to political and diplomatic. Emphasis should be placed on this logic. The army is a reserve of peace for us in case the abovementioned priority tools do not work in the circumstances,” the Armenian PM stated.